Le Chanceux Melenage 2015, Napa Valley, California

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Fruit forward on the nose with light cedar and lots of chocolate and tobacco notes.

Dry on the palate, and complex right out of the bottle.

Showing blackberries, cooked plums, figs, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, cedar, vanilla, licorice, mediterranean spices and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 9 year old is showing beautifully now. Complex and interesting. Rich and engaging.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 45 minutes of airtime. Tannins calm down after an hour.

This 2015 was a great vintage and it is showing. Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Spicy and engaging. I had it 4 years ago and it is drinking better now.

A great sipping wine to have all by itself, but will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Cabernet Franc and 4% Syrah. Fermented in (50% new) French Oak barrels. A tiny production of only 540 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$60 (at release).

Castelli Family Vineyards Estate Petite Sirah 2015, Ramona Valley, California

Dark inky in color with a short purple rim. Not showing much age.

Beautiful nose with lots of complexity.

Full-bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and very fruity.

Showing blackberries, cooked plums, dried figs, tobacco, Indian spices, peppercorn, herbs, light cedar, licorice, light vanilla, coffee, dark chocolates, mocha and cola.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 9 year old Petite Sirah is drinking beautifully now. Very fruity with lots of chocolate notes. The tangy/tart finish compliments it, and gives it balance.

Good right out of the bottle, and much better after 45 minutes of airtime.

Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. Loved the nose even more than the palate, and the alcohol is well integrated by now. Better watch out.

This  great 2015 vintage is showing very nicely now. I had it 4 years ago and it is more complex now, especially on the nose.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and good with food. I paired it with grilled lamb.

Aged in Hungarian oak barrels for 30 months. A tiny production of less than 600 bottles.

14.1% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$50 (at release).

The Vice Wines American Paradox Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, California

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs, chocolates, cola, light vanilla, spices and peppercorn.

Long tangy finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries.

This 7 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully now.

Easy drinking right out of the bottle, and even better after an hour of airtime. Red fruits show up after 90 minutes of airtime.

Complex and rich. Extracted and elegant. Alcohol is nicely integrated. A delicious sipping wine.

This Single Vineyard cabernet is very Spicy and well balanced. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 17 months in new French oak barrels. A small production of only 420 cases. Unfiltered.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$100.

Rubicon Estate Rutherford Rubicon 2004, Napa Valley, California

Deep ruby in color with a short reddish/ brick rim. Not showing much age.

Beautiful nose of indian spices, cedar, vanilla, chocolates and herbs.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and very fruity with blackberries, black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, light earth, vanilla, licorice, eucalyptus, herbs, chocolates and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 20 year old Cabernet Sauvignon is just gorgeous now. Fruit forward and rich. Extracted and interesting. Loved the nose here.

I did not decant it, and left it to open up in the bottle. Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime. 

Wine Enthusiasts 93 points.

Probably peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 to 15 years. Gorgeous stuff. I just love these Napa Bordeaux blends.

Good by itself as a sipping wine to share with good friends. Will pair nicely with a big piece of steak too.

A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot. Aged in all new French oak barrels for 22 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$135.

Meadowcroft Wines Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, California

Dark purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Fruity nose with chocolate notes and light oak.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, sweet cherries, light oak, spices, tobacco, dark chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins, cherries and red chili pepper.

This is a very young Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Soft and elegant. Smooth and rich.

Fruit forward with nice complexity. Showing nice balance and mouthfeel.

Already delicious, although it was just bottled, and will continue to age nicely in the next 7 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and a great choice for a restaurant, as it is a pop and pour kind of wine. Spicy and entertaining. 

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40.

Keenan Winery and Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Spring Mountain District, California

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

Nose of blueberries, black plums, currents, oak, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, light bell pepper, dark coffee, herbs and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and log legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, licorice, light oak, spices, dark chocolates, earth, peppercorn, herbs and light vegetables.

Spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa valley. Nicely balanced and muscular, with a soft mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes in the decanter. Once it opens up, more earth notes show up, and it gets more interesting.

This 5-year-old is already showing nice complexity with good structure. Spicy and tangy.
 
Easy drinking right out of the bottle, good by itself or with food. This is not the ‘in your face’ kind of Napa Cab. Feels like a fruit forward Left Bank Bordeaux.

Still young, and needs a few more years in the bottle to mature properly. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Wine Advocate 91 points.

Will pair nicely with BBQ Meats. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in French and American Oak barrels (33% new) for 20 months.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$68.

Rutherford Hill Winery Napa Valley Merlot 2019, California

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim. Pretty color, but looks much older than it is.

Muted on the nose with black fruits, light wood and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, licorice, light earth, herbs, spices, pencil lead, chocolates, light tobacco and peppercorn.

Medium minus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice entry level Merlot from Napa Valley. Smooth and elegant with nice complexity.

Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Rich and spicy with a nice mouthfeel.

This 5 year old is peaking now and will not continue to improve.

Good right out of the bottle and easy drinking. A good pop and pour kind of wine, but better after 30 minutes of airtime.

Wine Spectator 91 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. A good party wine.

A blend of 77% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Syrah.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$37.

Ad Vivum Cellars Sleeping Lady Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Yountville, California

It’s time for my #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a great Cabernet Sauvignon.

Inky in color with a short purple rim.

Beautiful nose of black fruits, cedar, vanilla, licorice and chocolates.

Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with great complexity.

Showing black currants, cooked cherries, blackberries, sweet black plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, light earth, herbs, cola, vanilla, spices, espresso, pencil lead, eucalyptus and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This gorgeous 6-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon from Yountville is drinking so wonderfully now. Still so young, but already very enjoyable. Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Rich, extracted and fruit forward. A fabulous wine.

Wine Advocate 97 points. Wine Enthusiasts 96 points.

This Single Vineyard Cabernet will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years.

Great right out of the bottle, but definitely needs more time in the decanter, which we didn’t have, as it finished so quickly. A gorgeous wine by Chris Phelps.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in (70% new) French oak barrels for 17 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$170.

Meadowcroft Wines Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2023, California

Pretty color of ruby with medium intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of bing cherries, wood and chocolate notes.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry and fruit forward on the palate with red cherries, currants, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates and light earth.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice surprise. This one year old Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley is already drinking very nicely. Needs a couple of years in the bottle to mature properly, as it was just bottled a month ago.

Nicely balanced with mild complexity. Soft and elegant.

I’ve had a few vintages of this wine, and it always delivers. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$38.

Flint Knoll Winery Royal Appointment Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Napa Valley, California

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide purplish rim.

Light nose with cedar and chocolate notes.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with a soft mouthfeel.

Showing black currants, black plums, blackberries, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, espresso, chocolates, diet cola and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Rich, spicy and elegant.

Fruit forward and complex. Nicely balanced with good structure.

Still young, and will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Has good potential to become a 95+ point wine. I’ll have to revisit it in 10 years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime.

Complex and a great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak. I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses. Gorgeous.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 21 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels. A tiny production of only 2,400 bottles made.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$175.